Hinge



Aug. 13, 1935; E. M. HOUSE 2,011,221

HINGE Filed April 18, 1954 Patented Aug. 13, 1935' zio tzzi a EEliQiMA. House; Tampa, Fla; :assignor to: House :Florida 1 Ladder Cmylnm, .Tampa, Fla., a -corporation of i Application April-"-18, 1934, Serial No. #21337 --I n Canada February 15,1934

1.; h I 7' f 8Claims. (CL-228523) This invention relates to hinges particularly biz-the type,5adapted to -be :used tor-connect the sectionsfoiaailadder to hold the sections inextehdedxposition -for :use-iasa straight ladder or in partially tolded positionas a step-ladder and-the .ohae'ct of theinvention is to provide a hinge of novelconstruction"and design which permits the .da'dderpto. be readilyl and quickly converted into M pneztypeior'other withoutremoval of the hinge i6 locking means, the same being a furthendevelopmenti of ztheinventiont of :my Patent 139441192 of January 128,;312934; I all as will: be more fully described and. claimed. L afleferring to the-accompanying drawing, which 1 ts'imadepazpart hereof andbn :whichfisimilar refmcemharacters indicate isimilarsparts; hifigure l isaside elevationof the ladder in extended vposition, :shoWing-thei hinge fixed thereto.

2 is'an enlarged-detail view: of thei'hinge Lill -Emilie. 1:; l

mime a isamendeelevation of Figure 2, radiis a sectionzonqline 4'4of*;Figure2,

v 1 ure$5 is: ae-sectioncn line 5..-'5.of Figure'z. .nftzthir idmwingw-reference acharacter l 0 indie 1 ecteazthe sidezrails of: the-supper: section of; the ladder connected by amlurality of steps: liiyflhe bottem-asebtlcnifnrmed of side rails I 2 are connected by a plurality of steps l3 and with a relatively wide step I located adjacent the upper ends which serves as a regular stepwhen the ladder is used in extended position or as the top step when the ladder is partially folded for use as a step-ladder. Each side of the step l4 adjacent its rear edge is cut back as indicated at IE to permit the side rails II to be folded against the side rails l2 for transportation or to be partially folded for use as a step-ladder. The steps of each section of the ladder are provided with 40 suitable brace rods l6 under each and connected in any suitable manner to the side rails.

The lower section of the ladder is provided with a stay rod l1 adapted to engage in an eyelet l8 on the upper section when the ladder is used as a step-ladder and whenthe ladder is used in extended position it is secured along the side rail l2 by a, clip is. The step I4 is further supported, in addition to the rod l6, by a bracket connected at one end by a nut and bolt 2| to 50 the side rail l2 and at the other end by a nut and bolt 22 to the rear edge of the step, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The sections of the ladder are connected together by means of hinges which will now be debolts and nuts 24 to the outside of the lower end -of the rail I I!" and a similarplate 25 is likewise secured to the inside of therail by means'of the .same'bolts andnuts. Each plate is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 26 provided with aligned openings 21 therein to receive'a hinge bolt :28: 'I'heplates-and the end ofthe raili ID are protion isiprovided with a' plateJ3l .fixed thereto by the .nutandbolt 2|, theirod .lfi; and: an: additionalnut and bolt 32; ,The plate 3|. is=provided with: a. rearwardly and upwardlyextending.- pore j i ion 33,;whioh isprovided with an opening corresponding tothe. opening; 21 to receiveithezhinge bolt 28. A slot 35 is formed in this portionin alignment with the :.o.pening. 1.2il tov receive the threaded end of the securingnbolt 30.; The :sides ofrthe slot are curved 'slightlydownward to permit the: bolt to readilygenter :the; slot. since: the .:bolt :swiingsron a. slight arc." The. tips of .the :sides of the slot 7 are: provided with t outwardly extending vshoulderse36 =:againstwhich= a.-'winged znutz lfl turned .on the threaded- ;end: of ith'e: boltiul 'abuts to. hold thesections extended :position. -r The shoulderszmaybe formed-by bending the: metal which normally would be removed in cutting the slots 35 since there is ample stock for this purpose.

For the purpose of description only one hinge has been described and shown. It should be clearly understood that a like hinge is provided on the opposite side of the ladder.

It may be seen from the above description that the ladder with the hinge construction applied thereto may be readily converted from one type to the other as desired by simply unscrewing the winged nuts 31 until they will clear the shoulders 36 formed on the slots and then moving the sections to the desired position. The securing bolt is maintained in place since it is threaded through the outer plate 23 on the upper section. It is possible, however, to secure the bolt in place in other ways, one for example being to' thread it through the plate 25 on the inside of the rail ID.

The hinge is not weakened in any way by the construction shown, particularly with reference to the slot since the pressure on the hinge bolt, is straight down. It has been found in tests that a single shoulder is ample to keep the ladder from folding but in order to make it safer and sturdier shoulders are provided on both sides of the slot.

The construction of the device described is such that when used in the manner above pointed out results in an improved hinge for a, definite purpose, that of permitting a quick change to a particular type of ladder without sacrificing strength and one which can be produced at a minimum cost.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a ladder formed in sections of a hinge construction comprising a plate fixed to the end of one section, a second plate overlapping the first mentioned plate fixed to the end of another section, a pin extending through said plates to hinge the sections together, a bolt extending through said first section being fixed with respect to the plate thereon, said second plate being provided with a slot adapted to engage said bolt, stops formed on the edges of said slot, and means on said bolt adapted when turned thereon to abut said stops to lock said sections together in extended position.

i 2. The combination with a ladder formed in sections of' a hinge construction comprising a plate fixed tothe end of one'section, a plate fixed to the end of the other section overlapping the first mentioned plate, a pin extending through said platesto hinge said-sections together, a bolt extending through said first section and being fixed with respect to said plate on that section, a slot formed in said plateon the other section adapted to engage said bolt when the sections are in extended position, outwardly turned stops formed on the edges of said slot and a nut on said bolt adaptedto be turned against said plate and abut said stops tomaintain said sections locked together.

" '3. The combination'with a ladder formed in sections of a hinge construction comprising a plate fixed to the end of one'section, a plate fixed to the end of another section overlapping the first named plate, a pin extending through said plates to hinge said sections together, a bolt extending through the first mentioned plate and the first mentioned section being fixed in one of said plates, a slot provided with outwardly extending shoulders along its edges formed in the plate on the second mentioned section adapted to engage around said bolt when said sections are moved in straight line position, and a nut on said bolt adapted to abut said shoulders when turned on said bolt to lock said section in fixed position.

4. A hinge construction comprising a pair of overlapping plates, one of said plates being provided with a slot, means for hinging'said plates together, and means for locking said plates in fixed position, said locking means including a clamping member projecting through said slot and a shoulder extending along one edge of the slot and abutting said clamping means.

v5 A hinge construction comprising a pair of overlapping plates, means for hinging said plates together, a bolt fixed to one of said plates, a slot formed in the edge of the other said plate adapted to engage said bolt, a nut on said bolt and stops formed on the edges of said slot to prevent relative movement between said plates when said nut is turnedon said bolt.

6. A hinge comprising overlapping plates, means for hinging said plates together, a bolt fixed to one of said plates, the other of saidplates being provided with a slot formed in itsedge adapted to engage said bolt, a nut on said bolt, and means adjacent the edges of said slot adapted'to limit turning of the-plates with respect to each other when the nut is turned to contact said slotted plate.

7. A hinge comprising parallel plates pivoted together to swing in parallel-planes, one of said plates being provided with a bolt fixed thereto and the other with a slot .formed in 'the edge thereof adapted to engage said bolt, a'nut on said bolt and stops formed on the edges of said slot adapted to lock said plates together when said nut is turned to contact the slotted plate.

8. A hinge construction comprising upper and lower parallel connecting plates hinged together, the upper plate being provided with'a threaded stub fixed thereto, the lower plate being'slotted along its edge to engage said stub, a nut on said threaded stub and stops formed on the edges of said slot adaptedto prevent'relative movement between said plates when said nut is turned to contact said upper plate.

' ELI M. HOUSE. 

